The aim of this study was to examine experiences related to long-term unemployment, of
people aged 55-64 years in Söderhamns municipality. This was based on issues relating to
experiences based on the situation as unemployed, environmental support and treatment and
its impact on the individual's ability to return to work, and attitude and opportunities for a
professional future. The survey was carried out with three qualitative interviews, which were
inspired by an exploratory interview methodology. These interviews were based on themes in
the form of backgrounds - from work to unemployment, the current situation - based on the
significance of having a job and unemployment effect, support and treatment, the future - the
perception of a professional future, activity, and opportunities. In order to further interpret the
empirical material, that was related to three theories; attribution error, action strategies and
social capital in service communities.
The results and analysis enabled conclusions showed that the solidarity was the most
important part of having a job, and what was lacking most of the unemployment. The
importance of the solidarity has been declared on the basis of theories on social capital in
service communities, and from this it is possible to understand the need for solidarity.
Informants have also sought to another form of solidarity than the working life can provide,
which can be considered as security for the individual. This community can also mean the
maintenance of the defence, which can be considered a disadvantaged to get out of
unemployment.
The study has also shown that the informants are opposed in relation to the employment
service, the authority is not considered to be an aid, but an inspection. This can be attributed
to the two parties act without cooperation. The maintenance of the negative perception of
employment may partly depend on its behaviour and attributions of attribution error against
the informant’s age, and it may be due to the informants' expectations of the employment
service. When these are not met, the informants question the authority’s usability.
The study has also shown that the informants believe that they have no chance of getting a job
in the future, partly because of the experienced old age, and partly because it’s considered that
there are no jobs in the municipality. These attitudes can be seen as defence, leading to the
informants oscillate between active and passive behaviour. Commuting is thus a process of
powerlessness - defence - motivation - behaviour - failure, which further maintains
unemployment. Another contributing factor is considered to be standards in service society,
which promotes individual passivity.